NOTICES OF MOTION

The Leader of the Government in the Senate (Senator Sir John Carrick) gave a Notice of Motion, as follows-That, on the next day of sitting, he would move- That the Sessional Orders relating to the precedence of Government and General Business and the consideration of Government Reports be amended to read as follows- (1) Government and General Business-Precedence: On each sitting day of the Senate, unless otherwise ordered, Government Business shall take precedence of General Business, except that General Business shall take precedence of Government Business on Thursdays after 4.30 p.m.; and that, unless otherwise ordered, General Orders of the Day shall take precedence of General Notices of Motion on alternate Thursdays.

(2) Consideration of Government Papers: (1) That, unless otherwise ordered and notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing Orders, on Thursdays no petitions may be presented, and, prior to Formal Motions, Papers may be presented by Ministers. Upon the presentation of such Papers a Senator may move, without notice, that the Senate take note of one, or several, of the Papers. Senators may not speak to any such motion for more than ten minutes, and the consideration of any such motion shall be interrupted after the expiration of 90 minutes or at 1 p.m., whichever is the earlier:

(2) Provided that, if the consideration of all such motions has not extended for 90 minutes at 1 p.m., debate on any such motion interrupted at 1 p.m. may be continued at 4.30 p.m., and further such motions may be moved and debated, and such debate shall take precedence of other General Business until the consideration of all such motions has extended for 90 minutes, or until there is no further debate, whichever is earlier.

(3) Where debates on motions moved under the provisions of this Sessional Order are adjourned and are called on in the normal course of business, Senators who have spoken to the Questions under the provisions of this Sessional Order may again speak for the time allowed under Standing Order 407A.

Senator Sir John Carrick, by leave, made a statement.

Proposed Notice of Motion: Senator Mason proceeding to give the following Notice of Motion: That, on the next day of sitting, he would move- (1) That it is the opinion of the Senate that- (a) Senators should not continue to hold office as Ministers of State, except that the Leader of the Government in the Senate should remain a Cabinet member in order to represent adequately government priorities to the Senate; and

(b) Chairmen of the Senate's Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committees should be granted allowances, staffs and other entitlements similar to those currently granted to Ministers other than Cabinet Ministers.

(2) That copies of this resolution be forwarded to: (a) the Prime Minister, with a request that he initiate action to give effect to the proposals including any necessary amendments to Departmental Estimates; and

(b) the Chairman of the Remuneration Tribunal.

Point of Order: Senator Hamer raised a Point of Order that the Notice of Motion was not in Order as it was substantially the same as a Notice of Motion already on the Notice Paper.

Debate ensued.

Ruling of the President: The President upheld the point of order and ruled that the Notice of Motion was not in order.